Age of Adventure - Chapter 323 TROY
Capital City of Veva, Troy
Eric look over the city wall, the torches along the city wall illuminated the trails along the top of the wall
This defensive wall that enclosed the capital city was reinforced once again.
The wall is not simply like a city wall but instead is like an extensive military fortification with magic towers and four large gates in each four cardinal directions.
Everyone still remember the battle between Zeus and Aero a few years ago. That battle could be said determined the trend of the era of that time
United Kingdom of Veva paid steeply for the loss.
This time if such person like Aero come again to challenge Zeus, Zeus would not be as rash and instead he would use the defensive measures he had put in the city walls to bombard his enemies to death.
He would not even care if people called him a coward this time. It is better than losing the world.
That is what Eric had spoken to King Zeus in one of the public meeting.
‘It is better to be called a coward and gain the world then having the reputation of being brave and losing the world. Those who have grand aspirations should not mind being talked about by those who were inferior’ this is what Eric had said and woken up Zeus from his dilemma.
He was too arrogant at that time and too confident of himself.
Zeus had always try to portrayed himself as a warrior King that is valiant and brave.
It is because of the charisma that he had that he managed to found his own kingdom and conquer the many kingdoms around Veva.
His bravery and fearlessness in battle made his soldiers follow him without hesitation even to the jaws of death
As such, he never let the reputation of him being brave and valiant to be threatened. It is also for this reason that he had lost the chance to kill Aero during the Feast of the Western Gate
Aero would say reputation is very important and one have to guard it with one life.
But if the reputation begins to constrain one action, and constrain one action to victory, then Aero would probably ditch the reputation he had built without hesitation.
Aero is flexible, like a bamboo.
When it bends, it did not break. But Zeus is too straight. When a powerful force sweep by and he did not bend, he would break
Eric words had woken up Zeus.
He seeks strength to gain the world. if he did not gain the world, what use is his strength? It would be nothing but a sand castle
Even though he did not remember why he seek strength, he knows that is his quest before the Exodus.
That is his grand aspiration the moment he steps his foot in the path of kingship.
His loss back then had set the trend of the world.
With the victory of Aero over him, everyone recognized Aero as the strongest person in the Vilajeri Continent and the momentum since then trended towards Vanheim.
With Vanheim subjugation of Duvar, they set themselves as the legitimate successor of the old empire of the past and the defender of the faiths of the Seven Celestials.
It is quite ironic considering the king of Veva is considered a demigod and acquire the blessing of the King of Olympus yet it is Vanheim that is considered the projector of the holy faiths of the Seven Celestial in the mortal world.
Zeus and Eric was also wary of Aero because Aero is blessed by the Goddess Athena.
Zeus in his conquest against Asgaro burn down the Temple of Athena earning the ire of the Goddess and also gaining the condemnation of the world.
Maybe because of the blessing of Athena, that every battle that the Vanheim Empire went on, they always win since they were blessed by Athena
United Kingdom of Veva still possess massive influence but that is only limited to the Western regions.
The term Southern continent, Northern continent, Western continent and Eastern continent was erased the moment that Vanheim subjugate Duvar.
The only reason they were termed as such in the beginning is simply because of the desires of the rulers back then that wanted to differentiate their areas.
And no one manage to change that term because no one had managed to become an overlord of the world
Each one stubbornly insisting that they are a continent of their own.
In actuality geographers at that time had never termed the geographical position of the kingdoms as northern continent and so on and so forth.
It is always one continent which is Vilajeri Continent.
These term is merely a political term that stuck.
But with Vanheim controlling almost all the powers in the Eastern part of the continent, they erased this term and once again established the fact that Vilajeri Continent is one and not divided into four continents.
The world now is divided into only the Western regions and the Eastern regions with the Western regions biggest powerhouse is United Kingdom of Veva and Holy Empire of Zun.
And in the east, the uncontested power of Vanheim puts them as the overlord of the East. It reigns supreme there
And the supremacy of Vanheim Empire all started with Aero victory fighting against Zeus.
Zeus had long mature from that immature King and had become more calm and cautious in dealing with matters of the Kingdom.
While he is rash, stubborn and at time impulsive, he is not entirely stupid.
He knows he could not win Aero just by relying on brute strength. This person is called by the world as a Divine Strategist
And even though this person possesses powerful ability and prodigious talent in the battlefield, it is his scheme and plans that enables him to propel a weakened kingdom to a world power that could now unite the world
As such how could Zeus remains complacent and remains stupid?
Zeus had reminded himself if after this Aero challenge him again he would have to see whether there are any hidden dangers before accepting such challenge.
For a man which is associated with wisdom and intelligence, how could Zeus not be wary?
Even if he defeated Aero, Zeus would be worried if there is any scheme that he had missed. By now, he already knows how Aero operates.
It is a multi-layered scheme. Always have a variation in his strategy making his true intention always hidden.
When you thought you knew the objective of his scheme, that is when you are trapped.
It is one of the reason why the city wall was once again reinforced.
The other reason is simply because the western kingdoms nowadays in a state of perpetual tension.
Eric is thinking a lot of things as he looks at the darkness of the city in the distance.
Of course there are some taverns that are still open and some dark alleys provide some service to the mercenaries and adventurer who wanted to release their passion.
And the one beside him is also thinking a lot. Eric sighed a bit. Beside him stand the King of the United Kingdom of Veva, Zeus as the wind blows over their robes.
They both seem to be looking at the same direction.
‘Troy is a nice name’ Zeus suddenly said.
There was silence for a while. Eric sighed and then ask
‘Why change the name?’ Eric ask simply. He is still perplexed on why Zeus suddenly announce such thing in the morning court.
The words that Zeus just said is like a permission.
Zeus allowed Eric to speak about the matter.
The relationship between Eric and Zeus is like the past relationship between Aero and George but there is also a slight difference.
Aero and King George were like teacher and student but as for Eric and Zeus they are more of a friend than they were teacher and student
As for Aero and King George it is the feeling between teacher and student and the feeling of meeting a precious friend that enables the kingdom to become a superpower.
One is eager to teach, the other is eager to learn
Aero and King George dynamic was always Aero teaching him while not forcing him and King George respected the wishes of Aero while at the same time possessing his own independent thinking
This created a sincere friendship and trust between monarch and subject, cultivate a gracious relationship between teacher and student.
As for Zeus and Eric, because of their relationship as friends, Zeus sometimes ignored Eric warning and advices.
It is because of this relationship that at this night when the King should be in his residence inside the Palace, he is standing beside Eric, looking toward the darkness in front of them.
The night seems peaceful but to these two men they know that there is nothing but unease in their heart since Veranis declare war to Vanheim and the subsequent events that happens after that.
And today, of all the royal edict that Zeus could have decreed, he decreed the changing of name of the capital city to Troy.
It is a meaningless order that have no benefit whatsoever but it is an order that Zeus had warned to not cross him on this matter.
Even Eric was rendered speechless in the court session when Zeus announce this matter.
Never before Zeus had silenced the thoughts and opinion of his courtiers since his defeat in Aero hands.
Since his defeat in Aero hands, Zeus began listening to the words of his courtiers and minister and try to emulate the behavior of King George wanting to cultivate a reputation of a wise and sagely king
This is the first time since then that he had invoked his royal power and disallowed any objection in this matter.
As such, Eric wanted an explanation tonight.